The Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra is angry that the Rumanian government has cancelled two concerts it was scheduled to give in Bucharest under a cultural exchange program. Zubin Mehta, the orchestra’s musical director, said that the excuse that a suitable auditorium could not be found for the Sept. 27 and 29 concerts was unacceptable.
Mehta noted that a Bucharest Opera House Troupe performed 12 times in Israel under the agreement. “They sent us a third-rate troupe and the subscribers of the Philharmonic series had to listen to those singers 12 times,” he said. “Now they say they don’t have a proper auditorium. This is a simple violation of an agreement. “Two world famous pianists, Radu Lupu and Daniel Barenboim, had volunteered to perform with the orchestra at the two concerts. The Rumanian Jewish community had been preparing to host the group. (By Yitzhak Shargil).
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